Russian PhotoSniper/FotoSnaiper

T

tedwhite

Guest
I know it's not an RF, but it is Russian, and seems quite suited to wildlife photography. Does anyone have one. Some are available new for about $160 with Zenit 122s camera body and a 300mm MC Tair f4.5.

Ted
 
I have one and I think it does quite well. The problem is carrying it around with the rifle stock. With today's attitude, I'm afraid it would cause a riot.
 
tedwhite said:
I know it's not an RF, but it is Russian, and seems quite suited to wildlife photography. Does anyone have one. Some are available new for about $160 with Zenit 122s camera body and a 300mm MC Tair f4.5. Ted
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Ted, as you know from the Spotmatic Group, I have the 122S set and find the Tair-3s (300mm f/4.5) lens to be quite good. Here in Georgia, people are less spooked by guns than they may be in places like California so I don't worry too much about people freaking out.

I consider the going price for the set to be one of the better bargains around.

Walker
 
The ones I've seen photos of don't have a "rifle stock" exactly, but rather a metal pistol grip with trigger, and then a rod going back to the shoulder with a curved shoulder rest.

But to some, it might appear to be a sort of "tactical" weapon and, especially in Bakersfield, they might just gun you down, and even more especially if you were walking around in the city itself. But I'm thinking more in terms of wildlife photography.

Does it take sharp pictures and is it easy to use?

Ted
 
and another question -- are there 500mm [+ or -] lenses available?

((My brother, who has terminal gun GAS, was discussing this very thing with me a couple of weeks ago.))

Thanx
 
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Hey, Doubs, didn't see your post. I'm probably going to buy one from Kiev Camera. I was just trying to get some additional feedback from other owners..

You are no doubt right about Georgians' attitudes toward guns. Not so in California. Here in Arizona I suspect it's pretty much like Georgia. We have open carry here, so anyone can walk around with a gun attached to his or her belt - as long as it's not concealed. Makes shopping at the grocery store occasionally interesting. We also have concealed carry permits, but to get one of those you have to pay money and take not only a day or two in the classroom, plus a rather tough written exam, but an actual shooting course at an outdoor shooting range (usually a cut bank in the desert). One mistake on the range and you're out.
 
CVBLC4: Don't know the answer to that one. The photosniper is manufactured as an integrated system, so another, longer, lens might not work properly mounted on it. But then, if you can pick up a 500-600mm lens for a steal you could always make your own mounting system from 2X4's, etc.
 
Ted, GA allows concealed carry with the proper permit. I've had one for years. I've also been a resident of NM and I'm certain that attitudes towards guns is similar there to AZ.

If you decide to buy a PhotoSniper, call Michael Fourman at Kiev Camera on his 1-800 number and ask him any questions you may have in advance. Michael is from the Ukraine and knows his products.

Walker
 
Lol, yeah same here I guess... at least in town, for wildlife shooting who's going to see you ?

Coming from europe, this gun debate sounds surreal... you cant own a gun here without a licence (wich you can more or less only get if you're into shooting as a sport), let alone go shopping with one :D
 
The Photosnipers I´ve seen here in Argentina are old versions, and came (all of them) with the Zenit 12XP or Zenit TTL, but not the regular camera version, as those bodies have a connector in the baseplate for diaphragm information transfer from the lens. As the regular kit is sold with a normal lens (Helios 44 58mm/2) I believe the camera is a standard one with some additional circuitry which can be bypassed/disconnected to use the normal lens or other. The Tair is a very good and fast lens, but must be used with the grip, as long as the focusing system is part of it. If it goes brand new for $160, its a real bargain!
 
ErnestoJL said:
As the regular kit is sold with a normal lens (Helios 44 58mm/2) I believe the camera is a standard one with some additional circuitry which can be bypassed/disconnected to use the normal lens or other. The Tair is a very good and fast lens, but must be used with the grip, as long as the focusing system is part of it. If it goes brand new for $160, its a real bargain!
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Hi Ernesto,

The normal lens that comes with the kit is a Helios 44M-6, 58mm f/2. It's made of a high-impact plastic and is very light while the physical design is unusual. I don't particularly care for it's looks myself.

The Zenit 122s body is special-made for the PhotoSniper setup and is not just a normal body. It has a plug to accept the cable that transmits aperture data to the meter and a cup with plunger in the baseplate that trips the shutter when the trigger is squeezed. The normal top-mounted shutter release is also there for use when not mounted on the gun stock.

The Tair lens focusing system is not dependent upon the stock for normal operation and can easily be used as an independent unit.

IMO, the new PhotoSniper kit features an updated camera body but is otherwise pretty much the same as the older units.

Walker
 
I have a similar setup in Minolta MF SLR. I have the choice of XD or X700 with motor resp. motordrive. I mount an IF 300mm/4,5 on it. Internal, fast focussing works without gunbarrel. Add the original Minolta doubler and you have a cannon. I managed to shoot ostriches in flight with this combo. Without gun-butt.
I think I can safely say Minolta's modern glass is of another standard than Russian Sniper glass. For that kind of money you can get a great telephoto for any brand of SLR.

Very off topic by now, this is the thing I use SLR for. This and Macro.
 
I have a very early Tair 300mm lens on mine. It is quite sharp and I like the results. Of course the set up is heavy, but it is easy to minimize any vibration because of the shoulder stock. I have the full kit, with the regular lens, filters, metal carrying case, even the screwdrivers. Mine has a silicon meter which is accurate. I never use the regular lens because I have plenty of other cameras with such lenses. I look at the Photosniper just for its 300mm lens. It certainly is a good conversation piece. I assume you that Bakersfield is as much the wild west, with plenty of gun lovers as most any other place in the country. Frankly, it is the gun lovers that worry me more than the non-gun lovers. The latter has nothing to shoot at you.
 
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